TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 9, 2014

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took up the case of Arkansas prison inmate Gregory Holt, who says his Muslim beliefs require him to grow a half-inch beard. Prison officials in the state do not permit beards except for inmates with certain skin conditions, who can have beards a quarter-inch long. Groups across the political spectrum and the Obama Administration say Holt has a right to grow a beard under a federal law aimed at protecting prisoners’ religious rights. WRCB-TV reports that the justices “appeared united … as they picked apart prison rules … that allow full Afros and mustaches, but no beards.” Also this week, the court heard from warehouse workers who want to be compensated for the time it takes to go through security checkpoints each day. The business community is opposing the idea, saying the security clearances are unrelated to core job duties. The Tennessean has more on that case.